DFF Prelude: Conny Groenewegen Catwalk Fashion Show SS10

By Ivo Wiermans

It’s time for change! And we don’t refer to the legendary words spoken by Obama, but to the atmosphere at Prelude. You know, the seasonal event on the eve of Amsterdam Fashion Week, where young Dutch fashion talents show their newest collections. The young designers at Prelude brought an unanimous message. Long-lasting designs with a focus on shape and excelling with simplicity showed a new generation of designers that prefers high quality to short-term fashions.

In the wedding chamber we experienced the presentation of Conny Groenewegen’s spring collection. It was a true experience,  instead of models ballet dancers showed some disproportional outfits in old blue and green. They looked like wide pyjamas and oversized shirts people wear at home. The dancer’s moves showed how clothes can be comfortable and graceful at the same time.
On the catwalk in the courtyard the show continued. There were more asymmetrical pieces, made of ingeniously woven, knitted and perforated materials. Conny too puts focus on shape and volume. Draped satins held together by buttons, ribbons or zippers looked both happy and elegant. A closer look to the used materials, shows the outstanding craftsmanship of this promising designer.

Antoine Peters Catwalk Fashion Show SS2010

With his collection ‘Turn your frown upside down’ Antoine Peters made a serious effort to make the fashion audience smile. And he succeeded, not only because the models looked funny with their clown-noses but also because of the collection full of smileys in graphics, fabrics, details and construction. The bright colors made us happy too. Beside the fun-theme, the collection looked rather grown up with T-shaped dresses and tunics. Special of the season is a shawl produced in collaboration with Moooi, the accessory will be available only next month in the Moooi Gallery in Amsterdam. Recently Antoine Peters was in the picture because of the costumes he designed for the latest edition of Arnhem Mode Biennale and his appearance in the book ‘100 new Fashion Designers’. Now, that makes us smile too.

Heineken The City

The unofficial start of AIFW was last saturday when 20 selected talents showed their creations at Heineken The City fashion design contest. Winner was Marielle van der Gouw, a shoe designer who based her winning hand-printed dress on a crushed beer-can. The white dress with colorful graphics looked very feminine yet streetwise. The other designers were inspired by the color, stars and graphics.

Bas Kosters: Freedom Collection

There was something new about Bas Kosters’ womenswear-collection for 2010. The dresses, pants and coats he showed yesterday at Paradiso in Amsterdam seemed more refined, happier and free. His previous collections always had a hint of anger, protest and cartoons, but somehow Bas took a few steps forward now. What he showed yesterday was wearable, beautiful in his own way and colorful. It made us laugh, feel happy and reminded us of our careless childhood-moments. The colors! That glitter! The clogs! The signature Kosters-prints! It felt like a serious ready to wear-collection. And he really made us forget that nasty crisis.

What are you wearing? Streetwear Amsterdam FW09 day 2

Daryl van Wouw Doesn’t Get In (at his own show!)

Even though his face is on more clothing than anyone can imagine, the bouncer didn’t recognize him.

C’est Brillant & Daryl van Wouw Catwalk Fashion Show FW09

Cara Schiffelers, chief fashion editor of Grazia Magazine at AIFW 2009

Cara Schiffelers likes the Italian juice Addy van den Krommenacker adds to AIFW.

Swart Front Row (Kids and their parents)

Bas Kosters at AIFW 2009

Bas talks little about piercings, a little about anarchism, and how much he looks forward to being with his boyfriend again.

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